Connecting branch sleeve



Feb. 2, 1932. P, BALZE CONNECTING BRANCH SLEEVE Filed Jan. 9, 1929 Z M W 2,

Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL BALZE, OF LEONIA, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO M. 86 B. MANUFACTURING 00.,

INC., OF LEQNIA, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CONNECTING BRANCH SLEEVE Application filed January 9, 1929. Serial No. 331,329.

This invention relates to split sleeves for making connections to pipes.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described, which can be applied with ease and celerity to any pipe whether for high or low pressure work.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth hav- 1c ing improved means to engage and hold the same reliably on a pipe.

A further object of the invention is to construct a device of the type mentioned having improved means to take up the contraction of the fusible metal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the species alluded to having an improved fusible metal memher that is readily cast in the device and acts as a unit.

A still further object of the invention is to furnish a split sleeve having a communicating channel therein to permit the fusible member to be cast in remote parts of the fitting with a single pouring of the metal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

WVith the aforesaid objects in view, the in- 39 vention consists in the novel combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiment, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device enibodying the invention, applied to a. pipe 40 shown in dotted lines, and with the packing applied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 44: of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view of the fusible metal member as the same is cast in the device, but with the latter removed.

59 The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produccd embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several constructions. The accompanying drawings, ,7 therefore, are submitted merely as showing 60 the preferred cxemplification of the inven tion.

Generally described, the invention provides a split sleeve for use in making connec tions with pipes of various kinds. The invention finds a large application to drainage pipes which are used in buildings. These pipes are made of cast iron with bell and spigot connections; or of galvanized wrought iron with screwed connections, and including certain branch fittings. Where it is desired to make a new connection in an existing plumbing system, it is necessary to break a section of pipe, and. remove usually two sections, replacing them by smaller sections among which is a branch fitting. This invention obviates this necessity.

Accordingly the invention provides a split sleeve including a hub member and a back which can be clamped about a pipe or section of plumbing into which a hole has been cut to communicate with the hub member. Preferably the hole is formed by making two spaced saw cuts at right angles to the axis of the pipe, and then removing the metal 5 therebetween along any convenient lines whether straight or curved, but preferably i the former, as by means of a chisel, or other suitable tool. Thus a substantially rectangular hole is formed which is easierto make than a round hole. The hub portion of the sleeve has a similar rectangular portion projecting into said hole, and at an angle with the axis of the pipe, according to the well known principles of plumbing design. The space about the projecting hub member is packed with 'oakum, or the like, and a fusible metal poured thereover within the sleeve. A channel may be formed in the sleeve topermit the metal to flow into the bottom of the 109 cally self retained on the pipe.

sleeve from the top thereof, thus simplifying this step in the use of the invention. Spacers between the back and hub member are removed after solidification of the metal to permit the sleeve parts to be drawn together to take up the contraction of the fusible metal. Thechannel referred to may be formed where the'spacers are located and the metal soliditied therein, to the end that any open crevice or spac'e'in the sleeve maybe closed by the solidified metal. -For carrying out this feature of the invention the spacers are of a sealing character to prevent leakage of the fused metal. There is thus formed an in tegral metal member including rings around the. pipe'and serving as an improved means for retention of the fusiblemetal in the sleeve, and. alsoof the oakum. Since the hub member is greater than a straight angle, it is, by means of the fusible metal member, practi- Referring in detail tothe drawings, 10 denotes a device embodying the invention. The

, deviceincludesa split sleeve 11 having a hub 4a;p-ipe 14; and flush with the interior of the ,member 12 and a backl3-which are circularly arranged to take about apipe 14; The

hub member 12 includes a connecting portion 15wher eby a branch 'connectionmay be efiected. with the pipe 14. This branch conneetion'may be'formed in any suitable manner preferably by casting the same integral withthe hnbmember 12. It is arranged at an acute angle with the axis of the sleeve 01 pipe 14 so asto discharge thereinto accord.-v ing. to-the. well known principle observed in plumbing design. The connecting portion 15 of the hub member includes azproj ecting part 16 disposed interiorly of the sleeve and adapted to-exten'd through an opening 17 j in the The opening17 may be formed in various ways, bu-tpreferably I make two saw cuts at right angles to the pipe and in properly spacedrelation to each other, which saw cuts define the upper'andlower edges of the openrectangular opening 17. In practice it is ing. in thepipe shown in ig. 2. Thereafter themetal intervening between, the saw cuts is removed as,. for example, by chipping out with a chisel, thus forming the substantially mu'cheasier to thus constructthe opening than to form a circular one. The projecting part 16 of the hubqmember is similarly shaped ;as clearly shown in Fig. so as to conform to theshape ofthe opening 17 and to-substantially fill the same.

The hub member is of an angle greater thanw180 for a purpose hereinafter described. Both the hub memberand the back I are formed: with integral lugs 18 and 19 through which bolts 20 are passed to strongly engage together the parts of the sleeve. It will be: appreciated that other engaging means maybe used in place of the bolts referred to. Disposed between the adjacent edges of the hub member and back, at the lines of junction of the sleeve parts referred to, are spacers 21 which aflord a seal from one end of the sleeve 11 to the other end thereof. The bolts 20 maypass through the spacers and actto simultaneously draw thersleeve parts into closed engagement with the spacers and to reliably retain the spacers in position.

' These spacersQl may be formed as separate cation of the fusible metal. The said flanges are disposed in proximity to the lines of junction or spacers 21 and co-operate to form at each side of thesleevea channel 24 between the wall of the sleeve and the pipe 14. The

said flanges terminate at 25- in spaced relation to the upper and lower ends of the sleeve 11.

The space between the sleeveand the pipe 14 between a pair of flanges 22 and a pair of flanges 23 ispacked withcakum or the like as shown at 26 and 27, this oakum in the case of thehub member being disposed about the projecting portion 16 and being confined between upper and lower planes28 and 29 de fined by the upper and "lower ends ofthe flange members 22 and 2-3, respectively.

The upper and lower annular spaces between the sleeve 11 and the pipe 14 and also the channels 24' are filled with a fusible metal as, for example, lead which is poured into the sleeve at the top, thus running through the channels and into the bottom of the sleeve When the metal has solidified it has the form shown in where it is suitably confined.

Fig. 5 and includes the upper and lower rings 30 and 31 which are interconnected by longitudinally extending bars 32 that form there'- between openings 33 and 34 within which is enclosed the oakum shown at 26 and 27. The spacer-s21 are removedafter the fusiblemetal has set and the bolts 20 drawntight. It will be readily seen, that this construction will effectively prevent so called creeping of the lead joint caused by alternating expansion and contraction of the pipe.

The operation and manner of use of the device will now be clearly apparent. Where it is desired to make a branch connection in an existing plumbing system, an opening 17 is cut in a section of the plumbing as hereinbefore described, and the hub member applier to the section with the projecting portion 1'0 extending into the opening 17. Then the back is placed up against the hub member and bolted thereto by means of the bolts sequently the oakum is packed in at 26 and 27, and thereafter a suitable joint runner is put about the pipe at thebottom'of the sleeve and the lead is'poured in at the top thereof, running through the channels 24 and solidifying in the said channels and also in the upper and lower annular regions in the sleeve. When attaching the sleeve to a pipe in a horizontal position, then a joint runner is used at each end of the sleeve. Thereafter the bolts are loosened or removed depending upon the construction of the spacers 21 and the bolts are again tightened to draw the hub member and back tightly together to take up the contraction in the lead due to solidification thereof. The sleevell is now to all intents and purposes a permanent fixture that can not shift, or be shifted, from its proper location on the pipe, and there is nothing in the way of packing that may fall out therefrom or become leaky due to deterioration as a result of time or weather. The invention thus provides an absolutely leakproof construction which is well adapted to meet the requirements of the most rigid sanitary code.

I claim: I

1. As an article of manufacture, a connecting branch having a split sleeve for joining to a pipe comprising a back and a hub member, said members each having an internal length-wise extending flange in proximity to the line of junction of the back and the hub members, said flanges being separated to provide spaces therebetween, the sleeve being adapted to receive a molten fusible metal in the space between the adjacent flanges at the, line of junction, the other spaces being adapted to receive a non-metallic backing, said members being adapted to receive spacing means inserted between said members at the lines of junction, said spacing means affording substantially fluid-tight engagement to prevent leakage of said molten metal at the lines of junction, and means to draw said members together upon removal of said spacing means adapted to take up the contraction on solidification and cooling of said fusible metal, with the fusible metal sealing the lines of junction.

2. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 in which the flanges terminate in spaced relation to the ends of the sleeve whereby interconnected continuous rings of the fusible metal are formed in the end of the sleeve.

3. A joint construction of the character described comprising in combination with a pipe, a split sleeve branch connection mounted on said pipe, said sleeve connection having a back and a hub member, internally positioned means extending therealong in proximity to and in spaced relation with a line of junction between said members, a fusible material confined between adjacent portions of said means, non-metallic packing retained by said sleeve against said pipe, said internal means and non-metallic packing, be-

ing disposed to permit the fusible material to form a packing ring within the sleeve about the pipe.

4. In a joint construction of the character described comprising in combination with apipe, a branch connection including a sleeve mounting engaging about said pipe, said sleeve mounting having a back and a hub member, spaced flanges on each of said members extending lengthwise at the interior side of the sleeve mounting and forming spaces between adjacent flanges and the exterior side ofthe pipe, non-metallic packing material; in the spaces between adjacent flanges on the same member and fusible metallic packing in :the other spaces asand for th purpose described and specified.

5. A connecting branch including, a sleeve portion to engage a pipe, and having a hub to communicatewith an opening in the wall of said pipe, said sleeve portion having a;

flange means on the inner side thereof, said flange means being spaced from said hub on opposite sides thereof, and packing between the pipe and sleeve portion, said packing including non-metallic packing in the region between the hub and the flange means, and cast packing on the other side of the flange means.

6. A connecting branch including a split sleeve for joining to a pipe, comprising sections one of which includes a hub member, flange portions on said sections adjacent to but'spaced from and on opposite sides of the lines of junction, and a cast material in said sleeve between said flange portions.

7 In a joint construction of the character described comprising in combination with a pipe, a branch connection including a sleeve mounting engaging about said pipe, said sleeve mounting having a removable section and a hub carrying section, spaced flanges on each of said sections extending lengthwise at the interior side of the sleeve mounting and forming spacesbetween adjacent flanges and the exterior side of the pipe, non-metallic packing material in the spaces between adj acent flanges on the same section and fusible metallic packing in the other spaces, said flanges and said non-metallic packing terminating in spaced relation to the end portions of the sleeve, said end portions of the sleeve having therein rings of fusible metallic packing material integral with the same material in said other spaces, as and for the purpose described and specified.

8. A connecting branch including a sleeve portion to engage a pipe, said sleeve portion having a hub portion to communicate with an opening in the wall of said pipe, said lot;

slee'x e *porti en being pgovideel' with a i ian-ge means-dividing the innersile' 0,5 the sleeve intozones;'said' flzmge means being [space-d from sad-d hub p'or tion, and pa cking between' the pipe" and sleeve portion, said packing;

" includingja yielding packing in the-region between the hub porfiien-and the flange -me ans;

and cast packing on the othens'id'ehfihe flan-g eqneans; said flange meansi-nchlding a p-ortie'n and terminatingin' spaced 're'lation to fla 'nge extending lengitudina l'l'y 0f thesl'eeve the ends; thereof, sa-il Cast peeking including ce'nl lecting ringsextendingzprofind 'i'lhe pipe-in the'ends of "the sleeve portion at the ends' 'of 9. -An article of nmnuiaemre including a splitsl'eeve' en'ga geable around api e, said spl i-t sleeve"havingjointed" sections; one "of which inc1udes* means for communicating with an opening in the wall of a pipe, a; plia ble paeking in' the s1eeVe-eXtenc1in=g around said means in spaced relation to the joints between the s'ection's, and cast packing in the sleeve surreuncling thepl-iable .packingand' I eXtend'ing'COntiILuGuSIy glong' said jeints for v sealing'the same; Y

' inw teet imony whereof I zifiix my signatu re, 

